Naga all set for "PILI mania"
by Lizel S. Macatangay

Naga City, April 11 (PIA) --- The local government of Naga City thru the headship of its chief executive counsel, John Bongat is all set for the Barangay Hopping Plant Nurturing Tutorial in line with its Economic Greening Movement come April 30.

After the program’s successful soft launch last week thru the First Lady of Naga City, Ms. Farah Bongat, stakeholders are all geared up to start planting Pili Seedlings , targeting a total of 30,000 plants before the end of 2012.

In line with this, each barangay will have a designated Barangay Pili Patrol team in close coordination with the Biotechnology Information and Organization Network (BIONET), Environment and Natural Resources Office (ENRO) and the Technical Working Group (TWG).

On April 30, Cluster A, composed of Barangays San Felipe, Pacol, Carolina and Panicuason will undergo the said tutorial. It will be followed by Barangays Concepcion Pequena, Concepcion Grande, Del Rosario and San Isidro, Cararayan, Balatas now comprising the B Cluster. Scheduled tutorial under the said cluster will be on May 21.

The remaining barangays under Clusters C,D, and E are scheduled on May 28, June 4 and June 11 respectively. The marking of the Pili seedlings is scheduled from June 1- to 8 for monitoring purposes and on June 17, LGU Naga will spearhead the simultaneous and massive planting of Pili in its 27 barangays.

Bongat said that this is just in time for the celebration of the city’s charter anniversary on June 18 where Naguenos and visitors will witness the opening of Maogmang Naga Trade Fair, Pili Gallery and Exhibit and Pili Business Congress.

Dubbed as “Pilimania sa Maogmang Naga” the event is aimed at encouraging more citizens to plant Pili trees, focusing not only on the business side of it but also to develop a sense of collective responsibility among environmental stakeholders.

Currently gaining popularity as the “almond of the tropics”, the pili nut is now a certified “pasalubong” favorite among foreigners and balikbayans. (PIA Camarines Sur)

Conference on cattle industry held today
by Ernie A. Delgado

MASBATE CITY, April 11 (PIA)—The challenges, prospects and opportunities in the cattle industry under the Aquino administration will be discussed by the Rodeo Masbateño, Inc. in a conference today at the MNCHS Student Center here.

Leading the presentation will be Regional Executive Director Joselin Marcus E. Fragada of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources who will discuss the status of DENR’s pasture lease agreements with cattle ranchers.

Jose V. Dayao, regional director of the Department of Agriculture, will present the current state of the cattle industry in Bicol.

National Dairy Authority area manager Jaime Lopez has been invited to present his agency’s role in the cattle industry.

Adrian Favis, managing director of Fortuna Ranch, will present the picture of cattle ranching in Masbate.

Senior Assistant Vice President Abelardo Monarquia of Development Bank of the Philippines will discuss his bank’s financing portfolio for the industry.

DA Assistant Secretary for Livestock Davinio Catbagan will be the keynote speaker, while Masbate Governor Rizalina Seachon-Lanete and Masbate City Mayor Socrates Tuason have been invited to render their messages.

Reactors to the presentations are ranchers and other industry players. (PIA Masbate)

DOJ urged to act on more tax evasion cases

LEGAZPI CITY, Apr. 11 (PIA) -- To ensure the success of the government's campaign against tax evaders, Bicolano Senator Francis Escudero today has urged the Department of Justice (DOJ) to prioritize the cases already pending with the courts

According to Escudero, 36 tax evasion raps have been filed before the DOJ since the Aquino administration launched its campaign to run after tax cheats last year, but indictments have yet to be handed down.

"The only way that tax evaders will see that the government is serious about this issue is when they see that cases are actually being filed in courts. What is taking the DOJ so long to act on these cases? The President and his administration are really serious about running after tax errants and the DOJ as the pit stop of this effort should also seriously participate in the process," Escudero explained.

Every week the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) and the Bureau of Customs (BOC) jointly announce that they will be file charges against suspected tax evaders and smugglers.

While the drive is most welcome to plug tax leaks and boost revenue collection, the senator said this must be done side by side with a serious partnership with the DOJ that has all the capability to see these cases move forward.

"This area in the drive against tax evaders should be connected otherwise the program will just scratch the surface while those tax cheats will just continue laughing all their way to the banks," Escudero said.

Escudero urged the BIR, BOC and the DOJ to put their acts together towards one direction to effect real and actual tax collection which could translate into better social services for the people.

"The program is not enough unless it is compounded with institutional changes and steps that run parallel to the end goal collecting real and actual revenues for the state. This program must have something to show for to get the message out there that the government means serious business against tax evaders. It is time for the concerned agencies to perform and perform high at that," Escudero added. (MAL/Office of Sen. Escudero)

GAD on the go at Catanduanes State College
by Edna A. Bagadiong

VIRAC, Catanduanes, Apr. 9 (PIA) -- The Catanduanes State College (CSC) has established the Gender and Development (GAD) office, led by Prof. Socorro T. Brillante, to mainstream the program among its faculty members, students and the community.

Dr. Asuncion V. Asetre, CSC president, issued Office Order No. 30, Series 2011 on March 2, 2011 which establishes the GAD office with its coordinator.

The new GAD office was launched with a mass and blessing rites officiated by Rev. Fr. Joey D. Aguilar on March 4, 2011. It is located at the Ground Floor, left wing of the CSC administration building.

Prof. Brillante is tasked to take charge in planning, programming and implementing the GAD policies and programs and in developing linkages.

As a revitalized program, CSC GAD, aside from carrying out its mandate, works for the integration of women and development concerns in the programs, projects and activities in the four-fold functions of CSC.

The office of CSC GAD coordinator has proposed this 2011 series of activities such as Gender Awareness Symposium for students in June, Gender Sensitivity Training for Employees in August to October, Sexual Harassment in the Campus Seminar in November and Lakbay Aral for GAD core group.

The Gender and Development Committee at CSC initially gained foothold on September 21, 2006 when Dr. Estrella S. Placides, was designated as CSC representative in the Regional Gender and Development Core Group. It has then embarked into a series of institutional activities that create awareness, generate involvement and give more focus on gender issues and concerns through the promotion of gender equality not only within CSC but also in the community it serves. (MAL/EAB, PIA Catanduanes/CSC)

Japanese volunteer to work at CSC soil lab

VIRAC, Catanduanes, Apr. 9 (PIA) -- A Japan Overseas Cooperation Volunteer (JOCV) will work as technical specialist at the Catanduanes State Colleges, College of Agriculture and Fisheries (CAF) Soil Laboratory.

Tetsuya Ishikawa, a Japanese volunteer who is an expert in soil and fertilizer sciences, had a courtesy call with Dr. Asuncion V. Asetre, CSC president on April 4, 2011 as a start of his initial 5-day familiarization tour and cultural interaction in Virac in preparation for his duty at CSC.

Ishikawa will be back to Virac tentatively on May 2011 for a two-year assignment at the College of Agriculture and Fisheries.

A native of Nagoya, Japan, Ishikawa is a 2009 BS in Applied Biosciences graduate at Tokyo University of Agriculture. He studied pedology, plant physiology, fertilizer and plant nutrition. He was also a student staff to the laboratory of plant production chemistry of the university and conducted pot cultivation experiment of eggplant and soybean. He was trained by the JOVC training course program on the preparation, adjustment of sample, flame analysis and calometric analysis for soil and plants.

He will assist in the continued mapping and testing of soil in the province. Ms. Namiko Yamamoto, the first volunteer from JICA calibrated the spectro-flame photometer equipment and started the soil testing operation during her six-month assignment in 2009.

Mr. Akira Goto, the volunteer coordinator of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) earlier assessed the progress of the soil laboratory on March 14, 2011.

The laboratory had earlier conducted an extensive soil mapping in the province led by Yamamoto. It identified and gathered soil samples for testing from 64 identified soil gradients across the province.

The laboratory has already completed the Nitrogen, Phosporus and pH test for the soil samples, said Mrs. Lani Ilagan, designated technician of the soil laboratory.

After the completed macronutrients analysis undertaken by the previous Japanese volunteer, the studying of soil micronutrients will be the next activity of the laboratory.

The soil laboratory at the CSC is equipped with a Spectro-flame Photometer, a soil analyzer device composed of two main machines, a spectro-photometer and flame photometer. It can test mineral content of soils as well as its alkalinity or acidity. Through this test, proper crops management can be attained. (MAL/PIA Catanduanes/CSC)

Red Cross to conduct 11th Summer Safety Institute
by Edna A Bagadiong

VIRAC, Catanduanes, April 11 (PIA)- The Philippine Red Cross (PRC) Catanduanes Chapter will hold its 11th Summer Safety Institute from April 25 to May 13, 2011.

Safety Services is one of the services of the PRC tasked with a nationwide educational campaign to ensure the health and safety of the Filipino people.

To effectively carry out this task, the Safety Services includes the conduct of training in First Aid, Basic Life Support- Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation, Water Safety (Swimming, Aquatic Lifesaving & Lifeguarding), Accident Prevention and basic rescue courses.

The following are the schedules for the training: April 25-29, 2011 for First Aid and BLS-CPR training (18 yrs old and above); April 25-27, 2011 for First Aid Training for Juniors (7 yrs old to 17 yrs old); May 2-6, 2011 for Instructor Training Course (18 yrs old and above and trained in FA/BLS-CPR); May 9-13, 2011 for Learn to Swim (7 yrs old and above) and May 9-13, 2011 for Water Rescue and Survival Swimming (18 yrs old and above and trained in FA/BLS-CPR). (PIA/Catanduanes)

Curfew eyed vs young burglars
MASBATE CITY, April 11 (PIA)—The spate of robbery involving young offenders has prompted several members of Masbate City Peace and Order Council to press the police to dust an ageing curfew ordinance and enforce it in the city.

Most vocal was City Prosecutor Edmundo O. Legaspi who expressed optimism that limiting the movement of children during unholy hours could help stem the tide of juvenile delinquency in the city.

Legaspi lamented that hoodlums were apparently exploiting the law prohibiting the prosecution of minors by using them in burglary.

He revealed that his home had been burglarized not only once but several times by minors.

One of the culprits had figured already in more than a dozen cases of robbery or burglary but lawmen could not run after him, he added.

It was learned that Judge Rolando G. Sandigan of the Municipal Trial Court in Cities had gone through a similar sad experience.

In response, Supt. Rowade P. Tombaga, chief of city police station, said the current curfew ordinance, in which the streets would be off-limits to minors between 10 p.m. and 4 a.m., would lead to naught because it carries no penalty.

Tombaga urged the revision of the ordinance to strengthen it against juvenile delinquency.

Recently, Regional Director Blandino M. Maceda of the Department of the Interior and Local Government said in a legal opinion that “full implementation of curfew ordinance may be achieved through the full cooperation of barangay officials and the parents themselves.”

Citing the Child and Youth Welfare Code, Maceda said a curfew ordinance should be “enforced against the parents or guardians and not (on) the minor himself.”

The Code decrees that “the duty to enforce curfew ordinances shall devolve upon the parents or guardians and the local authorities” and “any parent or guardian found grossly negligent in the performance of the duty…shall be admonished by the Department of Social Welfare an Development or the Council for the Protection of Children. (EAD, PIA Masbate)

Convergence benefits four municipalities
by Irma A. Guhit

SORSOGON CITY , April 11 (PIA)-- The four municipalities of Juban, Casiguran, Magallanes and Sorsogon City were recipients of several projects during the project launch of the Sorsogon Convergence Initiatives on Rural Development held here at Paradise Hotel last week.

The Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) turned over the Agrarian Reform Communities Project (ARCP) 2 which includes rural infrastructure projects, community development programs, survey and agro-enterprise development projects to the municipalities of Juban, Casiguran and Sorsogon City.

USEC Gerundio C. Madueno together with DAR Region 5 regional director Maria Celestina M. Tam turned over the manifesto and description of projects to Mayor Ester Hamor of Casiguran, Mayor Olivia M. Bermillo of Castilla and Mayor Leovic R. Deoneda of Sorsogon City who are the focus of the convergence initiatives..

These three local governments are the pilot areas of the convergence initiative program to run for 5 years from 2011 to 2016.

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) headed by Secretary Ramon Paje and region 5 regional director Joselin Marcus E. Fragada turned over to the three local government units under the convergence program the DENR program component which is the Integrated Agroferestry Production /Support to the National Greening Program.

The project includes the establishment of agroforestry farms and maintenance of the existing assisted natural regeneration project in their areas.

In support to the national greening program which these three municipalities will support as stipulated in the memorandum of understanding which earlier during the launch they have signed will include the production of forest and fruit trees for distribution to their identified areas for planting.

DENR have also turned over to these municipalities titles of alienable and disposable lands, the title of issuance of free patents for agricultural lands and issuance of patent for school site.

The programs and projects also given to these three local governments from the Department of Agriculture was turned over by USEC Bernadette Romulo-Puyat together with DA Region 5 regional director Jose V. Dayao which includes Livelihood Projects Facilities, equipments, and other interventions by the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR).

The project includes tilapia , bangus fingerlings, prawn, post larvae, tilapia breders, seaweed seedling dispersal; distribution and establishment of the Municipal and City Tilapia Hatchery, Mariculture Zone, Post Harvest Facility, Aquasilviculture Project, Fishing Gears Distribution, Seaweed Input Assistance and the re assessment of the Fish Sanctuary in these three local government units.

These three municipalities also received from the DA small water impounding projects from the Bureau of Soils and Water Management (BSWM) which was turned over by Dr. Silvino Q. Tejada.

Two units of pump and engine sets were also turned over by Dr. Tejada to Congressman Salvador H. Escudero III.

The local government of Casiguran, Castilla and the City of Sorsogon also received Communal Irrigation Project and Communal Irrigation Service Extension from the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) thru Engr. Antonio S. Nangel , NIA administrator.

Mayor Roque L. Carranza of the municipality of Magallanes also received the Farm Mecahnization and Post Harvest Program Retrofitting of Mechanical Dryers thru PHILMEC as a separate program from the convergence initiative program implementation.

This project includes provision of farm machineries and dyying facilities such as hand tractor, thresher, flatbed dryer and multi-purpose drill pump in together with the three cluster local government of Castilla, Casiguran and Sorsogon City.

Additional project also turned over includeed the retrofitting of the existing kerosine fed mechanical dryers with rice hull furnace in the City of Sorsogon.

Other projects turned over to the three municipalities, as pilot LGUs of the convergence initiatives program were projects from the Fiber Indusry Development Authority, the Organic Demo Farm by the Bureau of Agriculture and Fisheries Project Standards (BAFPS), the Nursery Developmet, Cassava Development Project in Casiguran and Castilla, the farm to market roads in Burabod-Palanas- Road, distribution of Irrigation pumps and the Institutional Capacity Building (ICB) project in support of the Credit Programs by the Agricultural Credit Facility.

The project launch was a success and the three municipalities piloted will be monitored closely and regularly according to the two congressmen of the the province of Sorsogon, Hon. Salvador H. Escudero III of the 1st district and Hon. Deogracias B. Ramos of the 2nd district.(IAG, PIA Sorsogon)

Female cops cited for outstanding performance
by Lizel S. Macatangay

Iriga City, April 11(PIA) --- A special recognition was awarded to two (2) female cops of Iriga City Women’s Desk for implementing the specific provisions of Republic Act (RA) 7610 otherwise known as the Anti-Child Abuse R.A. 9262, the Anti-Violence Against Women and Children(VAWC) Act of 2002; and R.A. 9208, dubbed as the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act.

PO2 Jennifer Laut-Ibias, was cited as Best Women and Children Protection Desk Police Non-Commissioned Officers (WCPD- PNCO) while PO2 Eugienne Nueva-Alfelor was also named as Best Asst WCPD PNCO/Family, Juvenile and Gender And Development (FJGAD) PNCO. The duo was also hailed by their colleagues at the Iriga City PNP for their exemplary effort in the execution of their duties and responsibilities, particularly in the promotion of various women and children activities within their area of jurisdiction.

The awarding ceremony was held at the Camarines Sur Provincial Office in Naga City during the 20th PNP Day Anniversary celebration.

Ibias and Alfelor both showed their dedication in disseminating pertinent information regarding Child Abuse, the rights of women embedded under the Anti Violence Against Women and Children Act of 2001 and explanation of related provisions to raise the awareness of women and children, especially minors who are oftentimes the victims of various harassments.

Both police officers made way for the filing of significant cases in court, bringing to the fore fairness to the oppressed while sending a message to their perpetrators that justice never sleeps for those who seeks for it.

Among the cases that the twosome has filed in court includes the case of JASSA SINGH, an Indian National who raped a Fourteen (14) year old girl. They also filed 13 cases of Rape, 14 case for RA 9262 , 15 case for Acts of Lasciviousness, one (1) for the violation of RA 9208 and were responsible for the arrest of 9 person and the filing of this cases in court. (PIA Camarines Sur)